Media release

Nouryon announces 2019 Imagine Chemistry finalists

19 Apr 2019 - News

Nouryon (formerly AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals) has announced the 13 finalists for the 2019 edition of its Imagine Chemistry collaborative innovation challenge. Imagine Chemistry was launched to tackle chemistry-related challenges and uncover new ways to create value for customers. The 2019 edition generated more than 160 innovative ideas from startups, scale-ups, university spin-outs, and other potential partners.

Sustainable bio-based surfactants (in partnership with Unilever)

CarbExplore Research

The Netherlands

Fraunhofer IGB

Germany

Sironix Renewables

USA

The University of Sheffield + Entomics

GB

Performance-boosting nanoparticles

RISE

Sweden

Sensing in demanding chemical environments

Arenal Process Control Solutions

The Netherlands

Fluence Analytics

USA

Ingu Solutions

Canada

Label-free chemistries

Intelligent Fluids

Germany

Pushing the frontiers of chemical innovation

Altum Technologies

Finland

Cambridge Carbon Capture

UK

Ionomr

Canada

Kansas State University

USA

The finalists will participate in an intensive three-day event in May at the company’s RD&I center at Deventer, the Netherlands, where they will work with Nouryon experts and business leaders to further develop their ideas into a joint value case.

Winners are granted awards ranging from joint development and research agreements to dedicated support from Imagine Chemistry partners. Unilever, for example, a key customer of Nouryon and a partner in the “Sustainable bio-based surfactants” challenge, offers the opportunity for winners to collaborate with its R&D teams and test facilities to move their ideas to the next phase of development.

“Imagine Chemistry is part of our focus on partnerships to drive growth and help us develop the essential solutions our customers need,” said AB Ghosh, Managing Director Surface Chemistry at Nouryon. “I’m impressed by the quality of submissions and the ideas of this year’s finalists are highly interesting. I’m looking forward to see who we’ll be working with to help drive sustainable growth in the future.”

In three years Imagine Chemistry has generated more than 500 solutions, and several are entering the commercial phase. These include Semiotic Labs, which uses machine learning and proprietary sensors to predict when and why equipment fails; and Invert Robotics, which provides safer, non-destructive inspection services using state-of-the-art mobile climbing robots.

About Nouryon

Nouryon is a global, specialty chemicals leader. Markets and consumers worldwide rely on our essential solutions to manufacture everyday products, such as personal care, cleaning goods, paints and coatings, agriculture and food, pharmaceuticals, and building products. Furthermore, the dedication of approximately 8,200 employees with a shared commitment to our customers, business growth, safety, sustainability and innovation has resulted in a consistently strong financial performance. We operate in over 80 countries around the world with a portfolio of industry-leading brands.

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